Feed mechanism for concrete-mixers.



L..W`. CARGILL. FEED MBGHANISM FOR CONCRETE MIXEBS APPLIOATION FILED 00T. 14,1908.

Patented June 29, 1909.

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LAWRENCE W. CARGILL, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

FEED MECHANISM FOR CONCRETE-MIXERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1909.

Application filed October 14, 1908. Serial No. 457,612.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE W. CAR-` at Columbus, in the county of Franklin andv State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Feed Mechanism for Concretelixers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of feed mechanism for concrete mixers and the Objects of my invention are to provide simple and yimproved means for elevating concrete from a comparatively low point to a concrete mixer hopper, and to accomplish this object by the employment of certain novel details of construction which will be more fully pointed out hereinafter. These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved mechanism, showing for the sake of clearness in illustration, a portion of the outer side flange of the elevating and carrying device removed, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same illustrating the position of my improved device with relation to an ordinary mixing machine, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of my device showing the same in conjunction with a concrete mixer, Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the elevating device taken on line -x of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a detail view in pers ective of a load leveling device which I cmp oy, and, Fig. 6 is a detail view in perspective of one of the conveyer blades or gates.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a suitable framework which comprises parallel horizontal beams 1 and 2, from which rise pairs of front and rear frame standards 3 and 4. 5 represents the elevator body which, as shown in the drawing, is in the form ol a channeled ring or circular conveyer. As shown in the drawing, the inner vertical side wall 5a of the conveyer or elevator, is of greater thickness than the outer side wall which is shown at 5b. rIhe circular elevator body thus formed, has secured to the outer side of its rear wall, a toothed ring or band G, the external teeth of which are preferably in the nature of sprocket teeth, said toothed ring thus forming a permanent sprocket wheel attachment for the rear side of the elevator. As shown in the drawing, the circular elevator is mounted to bear upon and against four pairs of rollers 7, each pair of rollers being mounted to rotate upon a forwardly projecting fixed shaft or rod S. As shown in the drawing, the upper rods 8 are supported by suitable clamps or brackets 3h in connection with the upper end portions of the l'rainc standards 3, while the .lower rods or shafts are similarly supported from the undersides ol the frame beams 1. The rollers oli' each pair are separated and each olf said rollers is provided on its outer side with a VIlanged cnlargement 7, said flanges embracing respectively the outer portions ol the front and rear sides ofthe circular elevator body, while the bodies of the rollers contact with the periphery of said elevator body.

Within the central portion oll the channel oll the elevator body, I provide a iixed rod 9 which curves to con'lorm to the curvature ol' said body, said rod extending from the center of the height ol' the elevator on one side to a point above the center ol the height on the other. 'lhis rod is held in the position shown and described, by means ol' suitable brace arms 10 which are rigidly connected with a frame cross piece 11, which connects the front standards 3. At desirable intervals, I provide the inner surl'ace olI the channeled elevator', with 'lixed brackets 12 and to each ol' these brackets is hinged as indicated at 12a the outer and shorter arm el' an angular conveying or elevating gate or blade 13, the longer member ol said blade inclining, as shown, in the direction olI travel ol' the elevator body and contacting at its outer end with the outer side olI the rod In hinging the conveyer blade or gate to the bracket 12, it will be observed that the ordinary l'orm olI stop hinge is provided, that is, the hinge joint 12aL is 'formed on one side oll the connected members, thereby permitting the ends o'l' the bracket and the blades to abut against each other, and prevent the blade l'rom dropping away 'l'rom the guide rod 9, while at the same time said blade when out olA contact with said guide rod, is free to swing in the opposite direction.

141 represents an angular scraper or leveling rod, the longer arm ol' which is pivotcd to the cross frame piece 11 at one side of the center ol the length olI the latter. This rod has its outer termination within the channel ol' the elevator body, its shorter terminal arm 14h extending transversely within said channel. Journaled in boxings carried by transverse l'rame pieces 2, which connect the beams 2 is secured to the usual form of concrete mixi ing drum 1S.

Beyond the pinion 15a, the shaft 15 ea ries i a bevel pinion v1.() which gears with a pinion 2O carried on a shaft which is iournalcd transversely in boxings carried by the beams 2 and 1. The Vforward end of the shaft 21 carries a similar sproclet wheel 22 which is connected by a chain belt 22a with the toothed ring or wheel G whieii is atlixed heretofore described, to the rear sido of the circular elevator. rl`he drum 1S which is arranged, as shown, between the beams 1 and 2, is provided vith the usual open or trough-like extension L3 which is below the shaft 15 and within this trough is 'iournaled the usual drum feeding screw to which and the mixing blades or other devices contained in the drum 1S, motion may be imparted in the usual or well known manner, by suitable gea ing not herein shown.

25 represents an inclined chute leading to the screw casing or trough, the upper andL outer end of said chute extending, as shown, through the central opening oi the ring-lilie elevator or conveyor Secured to the outer face of the cross frame piece 11 is the upper str ight edge of a dish segment 26 which extending slightly forward, projects within and overlaps the inner portion of the rear wall 5;L of the elevator.

ln utilizing my elevating attachment, the material to be mixed is deposited by dumping or shoveling into the lower portion of the rotating elevator or conveyor, with the result that the material thus received within the channel of the conveyor is engaged by the gates 1S and their brackets 12, each of said gates thus forming a bucket or pocket in which the material is carried upward until the gate passes over and out of contact with the upper end of the guide rod 9, at which point the gate will be permitted to swing downward on its hinge to the position indicated in the upper portion of fr' 1 of the drawing, the gate thus depositing its load into the chute 25, from which the material will travel downward into the trough and be conveyed in the usual manner to the mixing drum 18. ln the upward movement of the gates, they successively come into contact with the outer end portion of the scraper rod la, with the result that as said scraper rod breaks its engagement with a gate, the material contained in the bucket formed by the gate and its braclet, is substantially level, thereby insuring the carrving of substantiallv the same amount of the material up each of the gates and providing means whereby the operator may determine the amount of material conveyed or deposited in the mixer trough, by the number of buckets dumped therein.

lt is sometimes customary in the operation of discharging concrete material into a mixer, to wheel the material up a comparatively steep inclined runway to a platform raised above the mixer hopper. lt will be understood, however, that by the use of the herein described elevator, the material to be mixed may be fed into the lower portion of the elevator from a wheelbarrow supported at a verfT slight elevation from the ground and such material will be automatically carried upward and dumped into the mixer chute. ln order to prevent the material passing through the circular opening in tho elevator or conveyor, l have provided the guard or baii'le plate 26 -which covers the lower portion of said opening in the manner shown and described.

It is obvious that my improved attachment, may be employed with any of the orH dinary forms of concrete mixing machines and for this reason l have not at this time shown or described in detail a particular form of mixer.

l/Vhat l claim, is:

V1. ln a feeder for concrete mixers, the combination with a circular rotatably mounted channeled conveyer body, hinged gates at intervals in said conveyer channel, a fixed curved rod within said conveyer channel terminating near the upper side thereof, and means for retaining said gates in contact with said rod until said gates have traveled past the upper termination of the rod, of a concrete mixer, a chute leading therefrom into the upper portion of the conveyor, and means for rotating said conveyor.

2. ln a feeder for concrete mixers, the combination with a circular rotatably mounted and channeled conveyor body, hinged gates at intervals in said conveyor channel, a timed curved rod within said channel and having its upper termination in the upper portion of the conveyor, means for retaining said gates in contact withsaid rod until the gates have passed the upper termination of the rod, a pivoted angular scraper rod adapted to project within the conveyor channel and to engage the upper or outer ends of said gates and to disengage therefrom when the gates reach the upper termination of said curved rod, and means for imparting a rotary motion to the conveyor body.

in testimony whereof I my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LARENCE lV. CARGLL l/Vitnesses L. CARL SToUonToN, A. L. PiniLrs. 

